Obrigado Rio, Olá Lisbon!

LISBON, PORTUGAL - More than 400 athletes have gathered in the Portuguese capital city this weekend to participate in the 2nd UIPM Laser-Run World Championships.

Laser-Run is the fastest-growing sport of the Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne (UIPM) and after a successful Olympic Games for Modern Pentathlon in Rio de Janeiro (BRA), 421 pentathletes from 22 nations are in Lisbon aiming to hone their Running and Shooting skills in a format that mirrors the Modern Pentathlon Combined Event.

Laser-Run combines Running (400m laps) and Shooting (laser pistols from 10m) in fast-paced and dynamic races that can be held in urban, parkland or beach venues. The venue this weekend (September 3-4) is Parque das Nações (Park of Nations) in the Oceanarium area which was renovated for the Lisbon Expo in 1998.

The UIPM Laser-Run World Championships are not only for the elite – as well as competitive races there is also a Laser-Run for All division which allows participants with no competitive experience to try their hand at the concept.

Dr Klaus Schormann, President of UIPM, said: "The 2nd Laser-Run World Championships in Lisbon will be another big step for the development of Modern Pentathlon after the inauguration of this competition in Perpignan in 2015.

"The combination of Running and Shooting which replicates the climax of a Modern Pentathlon competition will create an exciting World Championships.

"UIPM is delighted to see 421 athletes from 22 countries in different age groups coming here to participate in Lisbon."

The UIPM Laser-Run World Championships made a triumphant debut 12 months ago in Perpignan (FRA).

In Lisbon there will be ten age categories in the elite division and five age categories in the open division (for athletes who are not registered with UIPM). Each of those categories features Individual races for men and women and a Mixed Relay.

Finally the Laser-Run for All division allows anyone who has registered at www.uipmworld.org to try Individual and Mixed Relay races for fun, with the Running distance capped at 1200m and Shooting taking place from a range of 5m.

For more information visit www.uipmworld.org.